What makes tangs so susceptible to ich?

[FloridaFishMan]

I was just trying to see why tangs seem to be so susceptible to getting ich in the aquarium compared to other fish?

 

[55semireef]

Its their scales. Easy to attach to and very easy to penetrate.

 

[bluerug]

I thought it had to do with their immune system being weak, could be wrong though.

 

[55semireef]

From what I have experienced it has nothing to do with their immune systems. Once ich becomes present a healthy 8 inch purple tang can be infected.

 

[lux_06]

i was under the impression that people believed that because they are such a free swimming species that seldom comes in contact with the ocean floor (habitat for ich) they tend to be less immune as they dont really encounter this parasite in the wild, this may explain why gobies and such dont suffer so much, other species i know of that are succeptable are batfish which are also free swimmers.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7862018#post7862018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lux_06
i was under the impression that people believed that because they are such a free swimming species that seldom comes in contact with the ocean floor (habitat for ich) they tend to be less immune as they dont really encounter this parasite in the wild, this may explain why gobies and such dont suffer so much, other species i know of that are succeptable are batfish which are also free swimmers.

Very much true. In the ocean ich lives on the seafloor until it can find a host and thats when it becomes free-swimming. Tangs usually don't come into contact with it.

Again, I don't think it has much to do with their immune system at all. I had two healthy tangs recently get ich because it was brought in by something. My tomato clown and Yellow Watchmen goby were not affected. Both tangs would have lived until the purple decided to kill his best friend in the hospital tank. Purple Tang easily recovered.

 

[SALT WATER CRAZ]

dont some tangs have thin skin and thats why thay are more prone to ick.

 

[bluerug]

It has to do with their immune system or they would not get it in the first place. A strong immune system such as triggers are less prone to ich, Tangs are considered ich magnets b/c of there immune system being weak toward the parasite ich.

 

[Psionicdragon]

er that totally doesn't sound right.

they don't have the "shield" like most other fishs, so they are prone to having ich more than others.

 

[bluerug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7869549#post7869549 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Psionicdragon
er that totally doesn't sound right.

they don't have the "shield" like most other fishs, so they are prone to having ich more than others.

I am kinda confused, do you agree with what you are saying or do you disagree with what you are saying? Sorry about my confusion, but i am just confused with what you said.

 

[COreefer]

I think their scale pattern is an issue making them more prone (aren't some tangs scaless??), but even greater than that is the stress factor. These fish are acoustmed to roaming large areas...once put into a glass box the stress does have a tendency to break down their immune system.

I have seen over stocked tank and the tangs get the ich the worst, I think is a combo of the two issues above and not just one single solitary issue.